Best light for seasonal affective disorder

The 4 Best Light Therapy Lamps of 2023

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Health & Fitness
Medical Supplies

Photo: Rozette Rago

FYI

We've added the cylindrical Bright Health 24-Inch Light Therapy Lamp as a recommendation in this guide. It’s an aesthetically pleasing (and functional) alternative to lamps with flat, rectangular light surfaces.

December 2022

Shifts in the number of daylight hours—due to changing seasons or long-distance travel—can have varying effects on people. For some, limited daylight hours can sap energy. For others, the effects can be more serious. After putting in 33 hours of research—including reading two books and five comprehensive studies on the subject and interviewing one of the scientists who discovered seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—we’ve concluded that the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus is the best light therapy lamp to treat SAD symptoms.

Although many people might catch a case of the blahs when the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, that’s far different from a clinical case of SAD, which should only be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional. You should use a SAD lamp or light box only under medical supervision, as it is in fact a medical device.

Our pick

Carex Day-Light Classic Plus

This light has all of the specs our expert sources recommend, as well as a reasonable price and a generous warranty.

The Carex Day-Light Classic Plus meets all of the criteria necessary to be considered therapeutically effective and safe, and it’s cheaper than many of its competitors. The lamp’s “99.3 percent UV-free” LED light and 10,000-lux light intensity at 12 inches, combined with its large, 15½-by-12½-inch face, mean you won’t have to sit in front of it for more than 30 minutes (the minimum length of time that experts recommend) to experience its physiological benefits. It has a color temperature of 4,000 Kelvin.

Also great

If you’re willing to pay a bit more for one of the sleekest large light therapy lamps we looked at, or if our pick is unavailable, we recommend the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite. With a minimalist, rectangular design, the Boxelite is the lamp we’d like to put on our own desks. Its light face is about the same size as that of our top pick (15 by 12 inches), and it provides 10,000 lux of fluorescent, “UV-free” light at 14 inches (two more than our top pick). The Boxelite also has a warmer color temperature (3,500 Kelvin) than our top pick, which may better suit your taste. As with our top pick, you have to sit in front of it for only 30 minutes to benefit. But the Boxelite isn’t adjustable, unlike the Day-Light Classic Plus.

Budget pick

Verilux HappyLight Luxe

The compact HappyLight Luxe shines brightly in multiple color temperatures and brightness levels, and it has an automated shutoff feature. It’s the best sub-$100 lamp we’ve considered. However, its light is less powerful than that of our other picks, and it provides 10,000 lux only at a distance of six inches.

At nearly half the price and a quarter of the size of our top pick, the Verilux HappyLight Luxe provides 10,000 lux of “UV-free” LED light at six inches, according to the manufacturer. Its 9-by-6-inch light surface has three color temperatures to choose from (3,500, 4,250, and 5,000 Kelvin, more choices than on our top pick or our also-great model), and it comes with a useful countdown timer. However, it isn’t position-adjustable like our top pick, and its small overall size and light face mean you may need to get creative with positioning to ensure an effective angle during use. And in a side-by-side comparison using a commercial luxmeter, we found that the HappyLight Luxe’s light appeared less powerful than that of our other two picks.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

Carex Day-Light Classic Plus

This light has all of the specs our expert sources recommend, as well as a reasonable price and a generous warranty.

Also great

Budget pick

Verilux HappyLight Luxe

The research

Why you should trust us
What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
Who should (and should not) get this
How light therapy lamps work
How we picked and tested
Our pick: Carex Day-Light Classic Plus
Also great: Northern Light Technologies Boxelite
Budget pick: Verilux HappyLight Luxe
Another good light therapy lamp
The competition

Sources

Why you should trust us

We looked at 50 lamps for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and eventually tested 15 top-rated best sellers. We spent a weekend reading Winter Blues by SAD expert Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, and spoke at length with Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD, one of the first doctors to report on SAD in 1980. We also reached out to psychologist Elizabeth Saenger, PhD, who was then the director of education for the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, and Teodor Postolache, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Additionally, we read through many research papers from the past three decades.

What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

Many people experience some emotional or physical changes with the arrival of new seasons, especially winter: Your mood may swing, your eating habits might shift, and your energy levels may rise or fall. Some people are less able to cope with these changes. SAD is a seasonal pattern of major depressive episodes as diagnosed by a physician according to criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). This diagnosis can be made only by a medical professional.

For many people, seasonal shifts in their mood and energy might be unpleasant or annoying, but they’re fairly simple to manage.

Other people feel the weight of these changes in a more serious manner. Maybe the symptoms aren’t quite severe enough for them to seek a doctor’s opinion, but the effects certainly make it hard to get out of the house in winter. It’s what folks sometimes informally call the winter blues.

A third group experiences these changes so severely that their lives are seriously disrupted. If you have true SAD, the darker months may feel like a physical exhaustion that will never end.

It’s important to note that not everyone experiences SAD symptoms at the same time or in the same way. In Winter Blues, Rosenthal writes, “Just as the degree of seasonal difficulties may vary from one person to the next, so may the timing of the problem. For example, one person may begin to feel SAD symptoms in September, whereas another will feel well until after Christmas. ”

Who should (and should not) get this

Therapeutic light boxes are not the only available treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you think you’re among the roughly 6% in the United States who suffer from SAD, talk to your doctor to figure out your best course of treatment (which might include anything from more time outside to cognitive behavioral therapy or medication).

For most people with only mild seasonal mood disorders (some 14% of the US population), the risk of using a therapy light is relatively minimal; eyestrain and headaches (especially in migraine sufferers) are the most commonly reported side effects. However, as New York Magazine reported in its 2016 article on SAD lamps, people with a history of clinical depression or bipolar disorder may suffer an exaggerated response while using a light box and should consider this therapy only in close consultation with a physician.

How light therapy lamps work

In 1980, Alfred Lewy published the finding from a small study indicating that sufficiently intense artificial light suppressed humans’ nighttime production of melatonin—a hormone linked to the regulation of the sleep cycle. According to interviews with Lewy, prior to that moment there was more or less uniform agreement among medical professionals that artificial light had little to no effect on people’s circadian rhythms. As it turned out, most experiments up to that moment had not used lights bright enough to induce a measurable change in human melatonin or circadian physiology.

“[Dr. Robert] Sack and I realized that humans really don’t have seasonal rhythms like animals do, like breeding and hibernation and reproduction,” Lewy explained over the phone. “We proposed a ‘phase shift hypothesis’ that is still the leading hypothesis for how bright lights treat SAD, which is that in the winter, with the shorter days, most people’s circadian rhythms drift late with the later dawn, out of phase with their natural sleep-wake cycle. It’s like having jet lag for five months. With morning bright-light exposure, those rhythms are pushed back earlier, back into phase with their sleep.”

Today, “bright light therapy is recommended as the first-line option” for the treatment of SAD, according to a 2003 review (PDF) in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. Far from being a fringe or “alternative” purported remedy for SAD, light therapy has been clinically shown in many studies to work to alleviate symptoms.

How we picked and tested

Photo: Rozette Rago

When you’re shopping for a SAD lamp, to ensure that you receive the full therapeutic benefits of the light, there are a few important factors to consider, namely how much light it delivers and how close to the lamp you need to sit for the treatment to be effective.

First, know that the FDA does not test, approve, or regulate light-box devices. As such, you should not use one without a physician’s guidance. We based our picks on research, customer feedback, and product specifications—including optimal sitting distances—provided by manufacturers, as well as conversations with experts who study and prescribe these units.

A light box should deliver between 2,500 and 10,000 lux. A lux is a unit that measures 1 lumen per square meter. The more lux a light delivers, the less time you need to spend positioned in front of it. For most 10,000-lux lights, 30 uninterrupted minutes per day, preferably in the morning, should suffice. “If you’re going to sleep too early and want to stay awake longer, a little bit of light therapy in the afternoon can help mitigate that,” said Teodore Postolache, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

We also looked at how close to each box you need to sit to score the maximum results. Light intensity is subject to the inverse square law, which says that the intensity of light falls off by the square of the distance that you move away from it. For instance, if you are 2 feet away from a light source, you see a fourfold decrease in intensity. The farther away a person is able to sit from a lamp and still receive 10,000 lux for maximum efficacy, the more flexibility they have in terms of what they can be doing and how they can be sitting during treatment. “I insist, absolutely, that any reputable, reliable manufacturer has to tell the consumer what the distance it should be from the eyes to achieve 10,000 lux,” Lewy said. “If a light box doesn’t have that information, I wouldn’t use it.”

The FDA does not test, approve, or regulate light-box devices.

The larger the surface of the light box, the better. In Winter Blues, Rosenthal notes that the lights “used in almost all research studies … have an illuminated surface that is at least about one foot square.” For that reason, and the fact that smaller therapeutic lamps have not undergone the same kind of rigorous study that their bigger cousins have received, we strongly recommend light boxes with the largest surfaces. (We do recommend a smaller lamp, the HappyLight Luxe, which we think is a serviceable option if you don’t have the space or budget for one of our larger picks. However, our top pick has a longer track record of efficacy in home and academic use, and in a side-by-side comparison that we performed with a commercial luxmeter, the HappyLight Luxe’s light output did not seem as strong.)

We avoided any lamps that did not have a plastic filter to remove most if not all ultraviolet waves (which are potentially harmful to the eye), and we avoided those with incandescent bulbs, which can build up a lot of heat, as well as models that used blue LEDs, as there’s still some controversy over whether blue light, which is different from blue-enriched white light (PDF), is harmful to the eyes.

Rosenthal notes that the lights “used in almost all research studies … have an illuminated surface that is at least about one foot square.”

Although many SAD lamps fit the above specifications, we discounted a number of them because of their high price, overly cumbersome design, too-small size, or dubious claims about features like “ion therapy. ”

Because we are not qualified or equipped to evaluate SAD lamps for efficacy, we focused instead on how easy they were to use, how much space they took up on a tabletop, and whether they met their stated specs, including their total size and weight, light-face dimensions, cord lengths, and approximate light intensities. In a nonscientific test, we compared lux readings obtained with a commercial luxmeter to check for any significant inconsistencies between stated light intensities and real-world readings.

For this review, we focused on light therapy lamps. We did not consider dawn simulators, sunrise alarm clocks, or so-called light therapy glasses.

Our pick: Carex Day-Light Classic Plus

Photo: Rozette Rago

Our pick

Carex Day-Light Classic Plus

This light has all of the specs our expert sources recommend, as well as a reasonable price and a generous warranty.

The Carex Day-Light Classic Plus has the largest light face of all our picks and an impressive record of efficacy, as reported in customer reviews and academic research alike. At a distance of 12 inches, this lamp projects 10,000 lux of “99.3 percent UV-free” LED light from its 15½-by-12½-inch lamp face, the same amount of lux as all of our other picks provide and the minimum lux that any SAD lamp needs to be therapeutically effective according to the doctors we interviewed. The lamp face mounts to a weighted horseshoe base by way of an adjustable arm. This arm allows you to adjust the lamp’s angle and vertical position, reducing overall glare and increasing the flexibility of where and how you can use the lamp. For instance, you can set up the Day-Light Classic Plus in such a way that it allows you to read a book beneath it while keeping most of your face positioned well within the therapeutic 12-inch range of the lamp face. In contrast, to read in front of lamps that sit directly on a desk, you would need to either place the book upright between you and the lamp, which would shield you from some of the light, or lay the book down in front of you, possibly extending your position outside of the lamp’s therapeutic range.

The Day-Light Classic Plus is designed to let you read or write in front of it while still keeping within 12 inches of the light source, the recommended minimum effective distance. Photo: Caleigh Waldman

Assembling the Day-Light Classic Plus is easy and takes less than five minutes. An on/off switch on its side powers the lamp; when switched on, it starts illuminating instantly, in one of two intensities (7,000 or 10,000 lux). Fully extended, the Day-Light Classic Plus is 28½ inches tall. The lamp angle can swing approximately 65 degrees from fully vertical to nearly horizontal, which adds flexibility, though this design makes the entire lamp more cumbersome to move around compared with other lamps we’ve tried.

Compared with the cooler tones of other lamps, the Day-Light Classic Plus emits a pleasant, warm light with a color temperature of 4,000 Kelvin. You can also adjust the intensity, choosing between a high setting (10,000 lux) and a low setting (7,000 lux). Unlike on our also-great pick, this model’s cover, which protects the LED lights, creates an airtight seal, which makes the lamp easier to keep clean. The lamp comes with a standard AWG 6-foot grounded power cord, which is plenty long enough for most people’s needs and interchangeable if it gets lost. That interchangeability also means you can buy a longer AWG cord and use that instead if you need to.

The Day-Light has been used for years by scientists and physicians who study and treat SAD. The Center for Environmental Therapeutics, a nonprofit collective of scientists and clinicians dedicated to research and education about environmental therapies, has recommended the Day-Light for years. According to psychologist Elizabeth Saenger, who was the CET’s director of education at the time of our interview, it’s the go-to light for many clinical trials that aim to study the effectiveness of light therapy. In October 2017, former CET board member Dorothy K. Sit, MD, and her colleagues used the Day-Light in a study described in an American Journal of Psychiatry paper, “Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. ” A January 2016 article in New York Magazine also touted the Day-Light Classic Plus, quoting psychiatrist James Phelps’s description of it as the “official research rig.”

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Day-Light Classic Plus is unwieldy and, some would argue, unattractive. The weighted base has a large (12-by-16-inch) footprint, so this lamp is not ideal for smaller spaces. If you don’t like the way it looks, you may prefer the simpler design of our also-great pick or our compact budget pick.

Like any heat-producing device, the lamp should be used in an open, ventilated space (a company spokesperson said to avoid putting it on a desk with a hutch, for example).

Carex’s five-year warranty for the Day-Light Classic Plus does not apply to “use other than for personal, family or household purposes and excludes shipping and handling charges.”

Also great: Northern Light Technologies Boxelite

Photo: Rozette Rago

Also great

If design is your priority, we like the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite. This lamp is more expensive than our top pick but looks the sharpest on a desk or table. Similar to the Day-Light Classic Plus, the Boxelite provides 10,000 lux at a distance of 14 inches, and it emits light from a 15-by-12-inch face. According to Northern Light Technologies, the light is fully UV-free, a slight enhancement over our top pick’s “99.3% UV-free” claim. The Boxelite provides an even warmer light than the Day-Light Classic Plus, with a 3,500-Kelvin color temperature. The Boxelite is not adjustable, but its slim, basic design helps it look the least obtrusive of the lamps we considered.

An on/off switch at the base powers the lamp. The bulbs take a few seconds to illuminate, but that is normal for fluorescent bulbs. The lamp also comes with a 7-foot cord, the longest of any of our picks.

Our favorite aspect of the Boxelite is its sleek design. The Boxelite has a picture-frame setup, minimal design with few accents, and clean edges. The back of the Boxelite is contained in a single smooth, black panel. It also comes with a seven-year warranty, longer coverage than for our pick. Note, though, that this warranty (PDF) covers everything but the tubes, and the customer is responsible for the shipping costs to send faulty units to Northern Light Technologies.

Our main two issues with the Boxelite are its lack of adjustability and its higher price, although it does come with that seven-year warranty. Also, since the Boxelite’s plastic cover does not feature an airtight seal (unlike on our other two picks), dust and grime easily slip into the hard-to-clean space between the cover and the lights.

Budget pick: Verilux HappyLight Luxe

Photo: Rozette Rago

Budget pick

Verilux HappyLight Luxe

In side-by-side comparisons, the light output of the Verilux HappyLight Luxe was significantly lower than that of our other two picks. However, this small lamp is a solid option for newcomers to light therapy who don’t have the space or the budget for our top pick or also-great pick. At less than a foot tall and 7½ inches wide, it also packs easily for travel. The HappyLight Luxe’s 9-by-6-inch light surface still shines brightly, though not as brightly as those on our other, larger picks. According to Verilux, the lamp’s claimed 10,000-lux, “UV-free” light projection is adjustable from 3,500 to 5,000 Kelvin, so you can pick the light warmth that feels best to you.

However, the 10,000-lux is only feasible at a distance of six inches, which is half that of our other picks.

This model also features a countdown timer that lets you set the lamp to stay on for five-minute increments up to an hour; when the timer is done, the lamp shuts off automatically.

The HappyLight Luxe has the appearance and approximate size of a Kindle or a tablet, and unlike our other two picks, it comes with a detachable stand that can also serve as a wall mount. Its small footprint makes it easy to adjust and move around for proper, effective placement and for making sure it is within the company-reported therapeutic 24-inch range of the lamp face, which is twice the distance allowed by our top pick.

Like the cover on the Day-Light Classic Plus, the HappyLight Luxe’s cover, which protects the LED lights, has an airtight seal, so the lamp is easy to keep clean. The HappyLight Luxe comes with a three-year warranty that excludes bulbs and parts, which are covered by only a 30-day warranty. At 67 inches long, the cord on this model is shorter than those of the Day-Light Classic Plus and the Boxelite. This lamp is also non-returnable on Amazon, though other retailers, such as Nordstrom Rack and the manufacturer’s site, offer 30-day return policies.

Another good light therapy lamp

Photos: Michael Hession

If you dislike the flat, rectangular light surfaces of most SAD lamps: Consider the cylindrical Bright Health 24-Inch Light Therapy Lamp. It emits the same 10,000 lux of 4,000 Kelvin light at a distance of 12 inches and is covered by the same five-year warranty as the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus. Yet it has a smaller overall footprint and feels far less clunky in our living space. “While most devices have a broader surface to reduce glare and increase comfort, the main issue is whether people will use it routinely,” said Dr. Jamie M. Zeitzer, a co-director at Stanford University’s Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences. Some users may find the cylindrical design difficult to look at or to position in a way to get the enhanced light, but “if the cylindrical design makes the user feel better about having it out in the abode, then that’s great.” (The Bright Health lamp also comes in a 14-inch-tall version, but we think most people will find the taller lamp easier to position for maximum efficacy.)

Photos: Michael Hession

The competition

If our top pick is unavailable, or if space is a concern, consider the Carex Day-Light Sky, which is a slightly smaller version of the Day-Light Classic Plus. Both have a long neck and swivel head for custom positioning. The Day-Light Sky’s base is teal.

For smaller spaces, Carex's TheraLite Aura is a serviceable budget option with a reported 10,000-lux output at 12 inches. Its overall footprint is less than half the size of our top pick’s; its light surface, in particular, is significantly smaller. This lamp is also less adjustable, allowing only repositioning of the light surface’s upward/downward angle (you cannot adjust the height). The smaller size and reduced adjustability limit your positioning options.

The compact Carex TheraLite is less expensive than our budget pick, but it’s nearly half the size. Its 3,000 Kelvin color temperature also isn’t adjustable.

In 2020, Carex came out with three new TheraLite lamps, all of which reportedly project 10,000 lux of light and have interesting features, but their one-year warranties aren’t competitive with our picks’ longer coverage periods. The Halo includes Qi wireless cell phone charging and six levels of brightness, while the Radiance includes a built-in alarm clock plus Qi wireless cell phone charging and five levels of brightness. The Aura Qi is an updated version of the Aura and includes a built-in alarm clock plus Qi wireless cell phone charging and four levels of brightness. In our tests, however, after 30 minutes of use it became very hot to the touch, reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Circadian Optics Lumine Light Therapy Lamp is extremely small, with a light surface of only 6 by 6 inches, which makes it difficult to achieve the optimal distance for therapeutic benefit.

Northern Light Technologies’s Boxelite-OS seemed like a promising alternative to the comparatively clinical-looking Carex Day-Light Classic Plus, but we found its two-legged adjustable design unwieldy. We also discovered that the light surface quickly collected dust and put off a considerable amount of heat (including for quite a while after we had switched the light off). The Day-Light Classic Plus, which we tested in a side-by-side comparison with the Boxelite-OS, seemed to produce much less heat when it was on and became cool to the touch just moments after we switched it off. Although both models have rather large footprints, we found it easier to position a laptop beneath the Day-Light Classic Plus than under the Boxelite-OS, especially within a small workspace.

The Aura Daylight Therapy Lamp, which regularly costs more than our top pick, has a streamlined design like our also-great pick’s with a slightly smaller footprint. Although it’s typically less expensive than the Boxelite, you need to sit much closer to this lamp to receive 10,000 lux of light, the manufacturer says (positioning yourself no more than 8 inches away from the light surface). The Aura Daylight also has a shorter warranty period—two years—than our picks.

We dismissed the Travelite and the Luxor, both by Northern Light Technologies, for their smaller light panels and lesser reviews, respectively. The company’s Flamingo lamp, affixed to a 4-foot-tall floor stand, regularly costs more than twice as much as our top pick and almost $100 more than our also-great pick.

Although the Alaska Northern Lights NorthStar 10,000 meets the recommended criteria for a light therapy lamp and has excellent customer reviews, at a typical price of $300 it costs over two times as much as our top pick.

Sources

Raymond W Lam, et al., Efficacy of Bright Light Treatment, Fluoxetine, and the Combination in Patients With Nonseasonal Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA Psychiatry, January 1, 2016
Nicole Praschak-Rieder, MD, Matthäus Willeit, MD, Treatment of seasonal affective disorders, Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, December 1, 2003
Canadian Consensus Group on SAD, Canadian Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder
CI Eastman, MA Young, LF Fogg, L Liu, PM Meaden, Bright light treatment of winter depression: a placebo-controlled trial., Archives of General Psychiatry, October 1, 1998
Robert N Golden, et al. , The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence, American Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2005
Raymond W Lam, et al., The Can-SAD study: a randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of light therapy and fluoxetine in patients with winter seasonal affective disorder, American Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2006
Alfred Lewy, MD, PhD, director, Sleep and Mood Disorders Laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University, phone interview
Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, Winter Blues, September 4, 2012
Elizabeth Saenger, PhD, director of education at the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, interview
Teodor Postolache, PhD, professor of psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, phone interview
Jamie M. Zeitzer, PhD, co-director, Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences, email interview, November 1, 2022

About your guides

Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Anna Perling

Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. Anna is a mentor at Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association.

Nancy Redd

Nancy Redd is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering everything from Santa hats to bath bombs. She is also a GLAAD Award–nominated on-air host and a New York Times best-selling author. Her latest picture book, The Real Santa, follows a determined little Black boy's journey to discover what the jolly icon truly looks like.

Best SAD light therapy lamps in 2023

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Reviews

Dana Holmes/CNN

Whether winter makes you want to sleep all day or you’ve been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may have considered purchasing a light therapy lamp — or, as it’s often called, a SAD lamp — to literally brighten your days. Research has shown that a lamp with light intensity of 10K lux set 16 to 24 inches away at a 45-degree angle from the eyes for 30 minutes can help in treating SAD and other mood disorders.

We tested seven of the most popular, highest-rated SAD lamps. We evaluated everything from the variety of useful settings and features to whether it can survive a tumble off a desk. In the end, three lamps shined brighter — figuratively, not literally — than all the others.

Prime Early Access Deal

Happy Light Luxe by Verilux

Best light therapy lamp overall

Amazon

The Happy Light Luxe by Verilux is sleek, slim, packable and stable, and its well-thought-out controls — which were missing from almost every other light that we tested — made customizing the experience a pleasure.

~~$99.95~~ $55.99 at Amazon $69.99 at Walmart

Circadian Optics Lampu

Runner-up

Though not as customizable, the Circadian Optics Lampu performs the most important functions of a SAD lamp like a star. It's sturdy, well designed, easy to use and bright —and its nonslip bottom should be standard among all SAD lamps.

$69.99 at Amazon

Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp

Best portable light therapy lamp

Although the Circadian Optics Lumos's surface area is smaller than any of the other lamps that we tested and, therefore, may take longer to produce the full effect, this little workhorse gets the job done and won't quit on you.

$49.99 at Amazon

Happy Light Luxe by Verilux

Dana Holmes/CNN

Hands down our favorite SAD lamp, this light has it all with zero unnecessary fluff. It’s packable and powerful, and it’s the most customizable lamp we tested. It’s a true champion, seriously outperforming the competition even at its relatively reasonable price. Each of the extras that it does come with are useful and well thought out. For example, no other light we tested offered a color temperature adjustment. Quick lesson: No light is actually white. Color temperature is the warmth or coolness of the light, or the amount of pink or gold or blue tint. Generally, higher-lux lights like SAD lamps tend to have cooler — more blue — temperatures. But the Happy Light Luxe allows you to adjust its brightness and temperature. Opt for cool light like a summertime sunlight, or go for a warm light, to mimic a cozy late sunrise or early sunset.

The three controls are easy to figure out — with a quick test or read through the instructions — and are right on the front so there’s significantly less fumbling, picking up or feeling around for a button, like on other models that we tested. Overall, setting combinations seem endless, especially when we factor in not just the whopping four brightness levels and three color temperatures, but also a timer that can be set by five-minute increments all the way up to one full 60-minute session. The timer is ideal for a long morning session or an afternoon pick-me-up at the tap of a button. Finding the perfect combination is part of the charm of this lamp; you can adjust the settings until you find which of the 144 possible combinations work best for you.

Other interesting things to note about this lamp are its versatility and durability. It can be mounted on the wall using a simple kit that’s included in the box. Basically, you just swap the foot from the bottom to the back of the light and use a screw with an included anchor to hang it wherever you’d like. This makes it able to work with even the smallest, most cluttered room or desk.

When we drop-tested the UV-free Happy Light Luxe, we satisfyingly pushed it off of a desk onto both a rug and a hard floor from a countertop several times. The attachable foot fell off each time but easily slipped back on without any physical damage or malfunction afterward. Speaking of design, this light is slim, slick and easy on the eyes. The corners are rounded and the matte screen prevents glare whether it’s on or off. The white case could contrast with some decors and could potentially get dusty, but swiping with a damp cloth would easily clean that up.

One odd downfall of this light is that its cord isn’t as long as the competition at just under 6 feet. The other two winners have cords longer than 7 feet, which isn’t a big difference, but we struggled to get the Happy Light Luxe’s cord to reach the outlet behind our 36-inch-deep desk and ended up using an extension cord. We also found ourselves wanting the ability to swivel or raise the light to customize the experience even more.

Circadian Optics Lampu

Dana Holmes/CNN

For $10 less than the overall winner, you can snag the Circadian Optics Lampu. Even in the box, from the very beginning we had a hunch we were going to love this light. The packaging was thoughtful and the design well beyond necessity, which gave us hope that more attention to detail was to come. Turns out we were right. It’s got looks, it produces brilliant light, it’s easy to move around the home or office and it won’t break easily if dropped.

Lampu is more of a modernist sculpture than other lamps we tested, which makes it both simple and a conversation piece. Its circular shape also seems to benefit its durability, because when we conducted the drop test its lack of corners to shatter helped it immensely. After multiple drops, the Lampu still looked and functioned as new. The construction overall feels very solid, with all its components tightly connected with no jiggling or rattling. It got the highest score for the drop test of any lamp we tested, though it is weighty enough that it won’t knock over easily. After much twisting and testing, none of its parts showed signs of loosening. The cord is also much longer than the winner’s — 7 feet 4 inches versus 5 feet 10 inches. The Lampu has a slightly smaller light-surface area than the Happy Light Luxe — 38. 5 square inches for Lampu and 54 square inches for the Happy Light Luxe. Something about its round shape, though, made it feel more like a sun lamp and more cozy than the Happy Light Luxe, which seemed more utilitarian with its rectangular shape and stand.

There are several reasons why this lamp didn’t snag our winning spot; however, the biggest is its lack of settings. The Lampu has only three brightness levels that you access by tapping the button one, two or three times. The single button’s placement is also not ideal: It’s on the back of the lamp, so until you have become one with your lamp and know exactly where it is — you can’t feel it because it’s purely touch, not a switch — you will have to pick it up and look for it or feel around until something happens. We found feeling around to be annoying and just picked it up each time, which, admittedly, is also annoying, but faster and less awkward.

It doesn’t have a timer, which means you’ll have to set your phone or something else to know when to shut it off. It doesn’t have color temperature adjustment either, so you’re stuck with the standard cool shine. Also, its glassy face does look shiny and slick, but it can reflect other light sources in the room and cause a slight glare. Speaking of the design, although it looks like something out of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and we appreciated that, it may not work with more traditional decor. A wall-mount option is not included, but for what it lacks in extra features it makes up for with quality construction and thoughtful design — other than that button on the back.

Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp

Dana Holmes/CNN

If hopping one planes to different time zones or heading farther north or south regularly are part of your routine, then the Circadian Optics Lumos 2. is the right SAD lamp for you. It folds up in such a fun, swivelly way and emits a surprising amount of light for such a small light-surface area of 9 square inches. The folding could be seen as an issue if the parts were janky in any way, but this lean, mean light therapy machine swivels into uncountable positions so that you can get your shot of 10K lux in almost any scenario.

The swivel is a nice feature that lets you point the light at exactly the right angle. Folded up, the Lumos measures a petite 14 by 2.5 by 1.25 inches, so you can take it with you almost anywhere in your work bag or carry-on suitcase. This long, tall light is also wall mountable, which makes it ready to work in any situation where space is at a premium. Another thing we really like about both Circadian Optics lamps is the organized, well-designed and simple-to-open packaging. When it came time to the drop test, this little guy took a licking and kept on ticking. We thought the slender design would cause it to break apart when knocked off of a counter onto a wood floor, but it survived all of the drop tests completely unscathed.

Although the light is bright and can be swiveled for maximum benefit, the light doesn’t provide a true sunshine experience because of the small surface area, which is why it didn’t take top honors. This lamp also doesn’t have a timer or any other setting beyond the three light brightness settings. The single button is placed right on the front so it’s easy to find and tap once, twice or three times to achieve your preferred brightness, but of the three settings, it seemed like only the brightest could be considered competitive with the other lamps. We tested this on a particularly dark and groggy winter New York City morning and the highest setting was the only one to break through the gray overcast natural light that came in through the window.

The Lumos comes with an attachable foot for using on a desktop rather than wall mounting for added versatility, but it comes across like a bit of an afterthought. This lamp is very lightweight and somewhat unstable on a crowded desk. We’d like to see the base more weighted for maximum stability. The plastic of the base is sturdy, but a nonslip bottom would also be an improvement. As it is, it’s pretty easy to knock over. Even just pushing the button on the front caused it to push back and wobble.

Before committing to purchasing one of these lights you may be asking, “What is SAD, anyway?” Seasonal affective disorder is basically defined as a bout of depression during the same time frame each year for at least two years in a row, followed by remission during the remaining months, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Women and people who live in areas that see less daylight in the winter months seem to be more affected than others, according to the National Institutes of Health.

If that sounds anything like you, the next logical question may be “Can a SAD lamp help?” Since 1984 when it was first researched, bright light therapy (BLT) has proven to improve those winter doldrums again and again. Enter the SAD lamp. Scientists have started zeroing in on exactly what kind of light, when to use it and how much light will do the trick best. The two key things that have been identified in order to get the best results are 10K lux brightness and UV filtered light. In general, the light should be 16 to 24 inches from your face and point toward your eyes from the side and at an angle of about 45 degrees, or halfway between your nose and your shoulder. Never look directly at the light. (You wouldn’t look at the sun, would you? That’s basically what this is mimicking.) Thirty minutes at 10K lux first thing in the morning (generally recommended to occur before 8 a.m.) is the equivalent of one hour of sunrise. See the lamp’s instructions for its specific recommendations.

Before adding a SAD lamp to your morning routine, speak with your doctor. Certain supplements, lifestyles and medical conditions have shown to reduce or negatively impact the use of light therapy. Even with a doctor’s approval, it’s recommended to test your personal reaction to the light by setting it about 18 inches from your face at an indirect angle (ideally 45 degrees from your forward glance) for about 10 minutes. If you feel dizzy, get a headache or experience any other odd symptoms, a SAD lamp, sadly, may not be for you.

To make sure we truly found the best light therapy lamp, we spent weeks testing. We compared performance, build, features, warranty — all by the same criteria. We took notes on how each handled, from unboxing to falling off of a desk onto a hard floor.

As much of the United States is in the danger zone and experiencing those darker months right now while testing, it made for a perfect scenario to test the brightness options and overall light experience. Our home office was overloaded with boxes and cables, but it quickly became clear which were the front runners and which just didn’t have what it takes to edge out the competition. Lining them all up and testing them enables us to identify differences you wouldn’t otherwise notice when using one lamp at a time. Subtle differences in things like brightness and light experience became obvious, while important features like a timer and desk footprint emerged as stark points of differentiation.

All of the lamps we tested met the 10K lux light therapy brightness recommendation, but from there they each provided their own unique experience. From packaging to customizing the light’s angle, brightness and color temperature, we ran each light through the paces to see which rose to the top — more details on exactly how we tested and scored can be found below. Lamps with larger surface areas did produce a more enveloping light that felt less pointy (is that a technical term? No, but you know what we mean) than the smaller lights, but their bulkiness along with other factors made them less appealing overall. Most of the lamps we tested didn’t have timers, which we thought was odd considering there’s a fairly standard recommended time limit for exposure to a light therapy lamp of 20 to 60 minutes. It’s not too much extra work, however, to use an egg timer or the timer on a phone. Our three winners scored high marks in the usefulness of their various light settings and controls as well as their mobility.

This is how we tested each lamp to determine our winners:

Overall performance

Sitting time: The lamps fell into three categories for this test. There were those that required a minimum of 15 minutes, those that required a minimum of 20 and those that required at least 30. The lower the required use time, the higher the score.
Light quality: Does the light filter out UV light? Does it generate 10K lux of light? Does the light glare? Almost every lamp got the full points for this. Points were deducted for glare and lack of mention of UV filter.
Number of settings: All lamps turn on and off, but any setting beyond that scored additional points. This includes swivels, timers, brightness settings, color temperature settings and beyond. More settings meant more points.
Versatility: Lights earned points for their ability to be used in various situations, such as on a crowded desk or wall, carried in a suitcase or placed on a hotel nightstand.
Heat: The less we felt the heat of the light during a full recommended session, the higher the score. Sweating in your desk chair is gross, but luckily, none of the lamps radiated heat, although some did feel warm to touch.
Difference in settings: While testing, we were careful to note whether the settings felt noticeably different — whether compared to each lamp’s own settings or the settings of the competition. The more noticeable, practical and intuitive the settings, the higher the score.
Timer: Does the lamp have a timer setting capability? If so, how customizable is it?

Build

Durability and quality: The top of the chart for us, as far as build goes, is the quality of the construction and materials. We rattled, we twisted, we knocked them off of counters onto a hard floor twice and off of desks onto carpet two times as well to see if we could damage each light with typical stressors. We also looked at the instructions for cleaning and maintenance and assessed how easy or difficult it is to care for. There were some clear winners in this category and some clear duds.
Cord length: It’s surprising how much a few extra inches, or feet, can make in a cord. This is especially important for a lamp that has a high potential to be moved from bedroom to dining table to desk to hotel nightstand. Not being able to reach an outlet means no light therapy, which makes the lamp completely useless. We definitely struggled with getting a few plugged in under the desk and had to opt for an extension cord — yuck. So, we made sure to give lamps with ample cord length a higher score.
Overall design: If this light is going to be a permanent fixture in your office or home, you’re going to want it to look good there. Although this may be seen as a subjective analysis, we tried our best to consider how each lamp would fit in a variety of rooms and decor. The more versatile the design, the higher the points. Most of these lights were designed for practical use, but a few stood out as better designed than the others.
Button placement: Buttons came in all sorts of shapes, sizes, functionality and locations. Sometimes we were hunting for the switch; other times it was so simple that we wished all lamps could follow suit. We asked ourselves whether the buttons were easy to use and clearly marked.
Extras: We made sure to evaluate additional features that weren’t standard across the board to see if they were brilliant or useless. One extra that we saw a few times and loved was a nonskid base — genius.
Noise level: Although this was a category for testing, it turned out that none of the lamps made enough noise for us to notice. So, they all earned full points here.

Warranty

Length of warranty ranged widely from one year to seven years, and points were awarded accordingly.

Aura Day Light Lamp, 10,000 Lux of Full Spectrum Bright Light With Adjustable Lux Dial and Timer ($127.89; amazon.com)

With the fourth-highest score behind our top three, we really wanted to like this lamp. As the second-most expensive lamp we tested, we wrongly assumed this light would dazzle us. It didn’t. It completely broke! First, the good stuff: The Aura Day Light Lamp has the lowest minimum recommended exposure time of 15 minutes. It has five brightness and six time settings. The patented LuxDial dimmer knob lets you customize your brightness, or start low and increase the brightness as you adjust to the light. The other buttons have a satisfying gentle click when pushed and are easy to use right on the front. Other notable features are that the Aura is wall mountable and comes with a 7-foot-long cord — one of the longest we tested. However, this lamp failed our drop test. We knocked it off of the desk onto the rug and it made a rattling sound but kept working. When we knocked it off of the kitchen counter onto the hard floor, the light dimmed, flickered, went out and would not turn back on.

Even before the drop test, we could hear rattling inside the light, and the casing felt flimsy right out of the box. The materials didn’t seem tightly put together, and there was a lot of space inside the light that made it bulky on the desktop. Its size wasn’t a major issue — we definitely tested larger lamps — but it was bulkier than the winner and had a larger light-surface area of 96 square inches to go with it. Aura’s design also feels a bit dated, but the dimmer knob and large buttons make it easy for older folks to use. Overall, this light could be good for someone who will leave it in one place (ideally in a carpeted room) and needs a timer as well as easy, clicking buttons and turn dial features.

Carex Day-Light Classic Plus Bright Light Therapy Lamp ($109.99; amazon.com)

The bulkiest light we tested was hands down the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus. This was a beast to get out of the packaging, required assembly and came with its own tool to put it together. With such effort to get it on the desk along with its $100+ price tag, we hoped it would be the star of the show. Alas, this lamp did not meet our expectations. For such a bulky stand, we wanted it to go higher so that it could fit over our computer monitors, not just over a laptop screen. Also, the swivel only goes up and down, not side to side. It’s still nice to have the ability to adjust, but it feels overengineered while still underperforming.

The large forked base helped stabilize the extra-large and -bright light box that is perched on a swiveling arm, but the top still felt heavier than the bottom, and it was easy to knock it off of the desk with an elbow. After multiple falls, the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus kept on working, so we didn’t dock points there. We were surprised that the swivel arm didn’t break its hinges at all when it crashed to the floor in its bent state, mostly because it seems like it would take the brunt of the weight and pressure on impact. So, we’ll give credit to its very strong construction.

On another note, the slide switch sticks out of the side panel and adjusts from “hi” to “lo” to “off” positions. The switch construction and location make it easy to find but felt a little jangly when we wiggled it. The five-year warranty is a great bonus, but it wasn’t enough to rise this light to the top. If you’re looking for a big, bright and enveloping light that will be a permanent fixture behind your laptop — the low setting works as a desk lamp too — this behemoth could be the lamp of your dreams.

Northern Light Technologies Boxelite ($160.10, originally $189. 99; amazon.com)

We appreciated Northern Light Technologies Boxelite’s black metal casing and massive surface area, but this light box doesn’t have what it takes to be our winner. Here’s what we loved: The large surface area meant the light enveloped us like being outside in summertime without putting off any heat, and we expected the metal to get hot, but it did not. The top got slightly warm to the touch by the end of the recommended time frame of 20 to 30 minutes, but that warmth never radiated out. The basic on/off switch was easy to use and did the job well. We should note that the on/off switch is the only feature on this lamp; there aren’t any settings or adjustments to be made. It also comes with a whopping seven-year warranty — the longest warranty of all of the lamps we tested.

Although packaging wasn’t a specific criterion, it was part of the overall design that we considered. The Northern Light Technologies Boxelite packaging was not impressive, which was surprising considering the price point. The light was simply covered in bubble wrap and packing tape, then placed in a basic cardboard box with an 8.5-by-11-inch black-and-white sheet of instructions. Each time we knocked the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite off of the desk, one of the white plastic screws holding the screen onto the box corners would break off. We ended the drop tests with the light itself still working but only one screw still intact and a flapping screen. There weren’t any extra screws provided in the box, and we couldn’t figure out how to get a broken screw out of the lamp anyway. We thought this would be a great box light for a film photographer to use with slides or negatives, but unfortunately it missed the mark as a SAD lamp due to its construction and lack of versatility and lack of customization.

Verilux HappyLight VT10 ($29.99, originally $39.95; amazon.com)

At first glance, the Verilux HappyLight VT10 seems quite cute and versatile because of its small size. You could potentially put it in a travel bag or on a crowded desk or small nightstand. Its price tag is also appealing from a value perspective, plus the included instructions are thorough. But in short this lamp was a dud. Because of the small, 20-square-inch surface area, the light felt less bright than the others we tested, and could really use the ability to adjust the angle. There aren’t any brightness settings or other extras to customize the light experience at all. The cord is the shortest we tested at 5 feet long. We could hear rattling pieces when we took it out of the box, as if poorly constructed, not damaged in transit. Our initial reaction to the rattling pieces was proven correct during the drop test. First, pieces broke off of the top and bottom, then on the second drop, the entire lamp shattered all over the room, including the fluorescent lightbulb. Overall, this lamp is not even worth the low price tag. Spending a bit more will get a much better and long-lasting product.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

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Best SAD Lamps for Seasonal Affective Disorder and How to Use Them - Drink-Drink

07/07/2022 DrinkDrinkAdmin

Table of Contents

Best SAD Lamps at a Glance
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
- SAD symptoms
- SAD treatment options
What is the purpose of the SAD lamp?
Do SAD lamps work?
How We Chose
- Pricing Guide
How to choose a LAMS SAD
- Safety
- Specifications
- SIZE
- Personal style and needs
Choosing DRINK-DRINK for the best SAD
CARAX lamps CARAC Plus
Pro
Cons
Best UV Free SAD Bulb
Nordic Lighting Technology Boxelite
Pros
Cons
Frequently asked questions about SAD lamps
- Can SAD lamps damage the skin or eyes?
- Can SAD lamps increase vitamin D levels?
- How bright are the SAD lamps?
- How long does it take for the SAD lamp to turn on?
- Is there anyone who should not use the SAD lamp?
- Interested in other mental health resources?
Other remedies for seasonal affective disorder
Conclusion

Brief review of the best Lamps SAD

Best adjustable SAD lamp: Light-therapy lamp Carex day Classic Plus
4 Best SAD BOX BOX: Technologies Boxing SAD: Circadian Optics Lattis Light Therapy Lamp
Best SAD Leisure Lamp: Flamingo Floor Lamp
Best Available SAD Lamp: TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), now known as major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns, is a condition that causes sadness or depression as the seasons change.

This is most common in autumn and winter when the days are getting shorter and exposure to sunlight is reduced. It is most common in women and young adults.

Counseling, therapy, and medication may be effective for this condition. Light boxes, also called SAD lamps or light therapy lamps, are another option that can reduce symptoms and provide relief. They work by simulating natural daylight.

What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

Symptoms of SAD

There are two types of SAD: winter and summer. SAD affects people in different ways, but symptoms can vary depending on the type of SAD.

Symptoms of winter SAD include:

daytime fatigue
difficulty concentrating
feelings of hopelessness
irritability
lack of interest in social activities
lethargy
Sexual interest decrease
misfortune
Environmental increase

Symptoms of summer SAR include:

Agreement
Difficulty sleeping
Lack of appetite 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 people with SAD may have suicidal thoughts.

Treatment options for SAD

Counseling and therapy are treatment options for both forms of SAD. For some people, medications such as antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) may also help. People with SAD should talk to their doctor about which medication is the best course of treatment.

Light therapy can also be used to treat winter SAD. This includes using a special light box or visor for at least 30 minutes each day to mimic natural light. Light therapy should only be used under medical supervision and on approved devices. Other light sources such as tanning beds are not safe to use.

Another type of treatment is the Dawn Simulator, which uses time-activated light to simulate sunrise to help stimulate the biological clock.

Adopting some healthy lifestyle habits can also help minimize SAD symptoms. This may include:
- a balanced diet with lean protein, fruits and vegetables
- exercise
- regular sleep
What is the purpose of the SAD lamp?

The SAD Lamp uses light therapy to mimic sunlight and trick the body into thinking it's warmer months and cause the body to release serotonin.

The light emitted by the SAD lamp is measured in lux. Lux is a measurement of light intensity combined with area. The SAD lamp must provide 10,000 lux of brightness. The viewing angle of the lamp should allow it to be positioned above the eyes and at a slight downward angle to minimize glare.

Typically, SAD lamps or luminaires should be used for 30 minutes to an hour. They can be used at any time of the day, although they are usually used first thing in the morning.

SAD lamps are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Are the SAD lamps working?

SAD lamps mimic sunlight, which helps the brain produce serotonin, often referred to as the feel-good hormone.

Research shows that light therapy during periods of short daylight hours can help correct your circadian rhythm, the body's process for regulating your sleep-wake cycle. It is useful for improving mood and reducing symptoms of depression.

Light therapy has become an established practice for the relief of SAD and other conditions such as:
- Biorhythm
- Dementia
- Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders
How We Chose

We selected these lamps based on their effectiveness in treating SAD, as well as user reviews and price.

Manual for pricing
- $ = less than $ 100 USA
- $ = 100-200 US dollars
- $ = more than 20 dollars US0111
  There are many lamps and light boxes sold as SAD or light therapy lamps. Not all of these products are effective or suitable for this use.
  
  SAD lamps are not regulated by the FDA, so it is important to purchase a lamp that provides sufficient light and is designed to treat SAD.
  
  Here are some features to look for:
  
  Preservation
  - Do not purchase a light box designed to treat skin conditions. These devices are not designed to treat mood disorders and they will not work.
  - Check that the lamp filters ultraviolet (UV) light and is labeled UV-free. UV light can damage your eyes and skin.
  Specifications
  - The lamp must produce 10,000 to 10,000 lux of cool white fluorescent light. The output power of 20 lux is about XNUMX times greater than the light output generated by most indoor lights. Lamps with lower light levels may need to be used more frequently than lamps with higher brightness.
  - Choose a glare-free lamp or a lamp that can be angled down to reduce or eliminate glare in the eyes.
  Size
  - Look for a lamp with a light surface area of about 12 by 15 inches. The larger the surface area, the greater the lux. Larger lamps also give you more room to move around, so you can be further away from the lamp without sacrificing efficiency.
  - Smaller lamps are not as effective and may need to be used more frequently for longer sessions. However, you can purchase a second, smaller lamp if you travel a lot. Your doctor can provide personalized advice on how to use the lamp.
  Personal style and needs
  - Think about what you would like to do with a lamp and buy one that suits that purpose. For example, light boxes. shown to help with jet lag. So if you are a frequent traveler, you may want to opt for a small, portable option.
  - Lamp styles vary. It may be better for you to purchase an attractive lamp that will match your interior so that it can be used in the desired position. For maximum benefit, you'll want to use the lamp at least once a day, so having it ready and in an easily accessible place can be a plus.
  Drink-Drink Choice for the Best SAD Lamps
  
  Best SAD Dimmable Lamp
  
  Carex Day-Light Classic Plus Light Therapy Lamp
  
  Cost: $$
  
  This lamp has a large surface area of 15.5 inches by 13.5 inches. It generates 10,000 lux and emits light in a downward direction - this helps to avoid glare no matter how it is positioned.
  
  The lamp stand is adjustable, so it will most likely be comfortable to use regardless of your height or type of chair. Users say that the lamp stand does not wobble and that the lamp reaches full lumen quickly for maximum benefit.
  
  PRO
  - Large surface area
  - Bezlikovo
  - Regulated
  BESSISE
- ROAD
The best SAD lamp

Northern Light
Technology 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 In addition to features such as 10,000 lux brightness and a large screen, this SAD lamp is built to last. Many users are delighted with it after XNUMX years or more after purchase.

The lamp includes long life fluorescent lamps and does not contain UV radiation. It also has five different height levels and is easily adjustable. Please note that it weighs 11 pounds and is heavier than many other lamps.

Pros

UV-free

Durable

Bessions

than other options on our list

The best portable lamp SAD

Lamp for light therapy CIRCADIAN OPTICS LATIC0143
Price: $

If you like the look of contemporary decor, this lamp might be for you. It has 10,000 lux of full spectrum LED white light with no UV radiation. It also boasts three brightness levels, so you can increase or decrease the amount of light it receives.

Many users prefer LEDs to fluorescents because they last longer. This lamp has a small surface area and a fixed position that cannot be adjusted. However, it can be great for small spaces or as a travel lamp.

pluses

Stylish type

UV-free

Three brightness levels

Bessions
Much more than other options

may not be all to the taste of

SAD for rest

.

Cost: $$$

This 46" high lamp is a great option for those who want to place their SAD lamp next to a treadmill or glider. It also fits neatly into corners for use while reading or watching TV.

This floor lamp provides 10,000 lux of full spectrum LED light with no UV radiation. It is also non-glare and adjustable. Users like the solid construction and long lasting light bulbs that typically last around 20 years. Assembly required.

Pros

UV free

full spectrum LED light

glare free

comes with long life bulbs

Cons

assembly required
0010

Best SAD Lamp Available

TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp

Price: $

Although this portable option has a screen size smaller than recommended, it still provides good value for money.

Designed for travel use, this lamp delivers 10,000 lux of brightness and one-touch control.

Pros

portable

one-touch control

Cons

may be too small for some users

How to Use the SAD Lamp for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Do not start using the SAD lamp without your doctor's approval. This is especially important if you have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, glaucoma, or lupus.

Always get a green light from your doctor if you are taking prescription drugs. any kind, including neuroleptics and antidepressants . Be aware that some prescription drugs and over-the-counter supplements can make your skin sensitive to light, requiring adjustments to lamp usage. These medications include lithium, some acne medications, and St. John's wort.

Use the lamp daily. You can use it until daylight hours increase.

Experiment with time frames. Many people find benefits from just 20 minutes of use. Others require 60 minutes, which is generally considered the maximum exposure you should get.

Consider when to use it. Many experts recommend using the SAD lamp first thing in the morning. Your doctor may also recommend that you use it throughout the day. Keep in mind that more is not always better. Excessive use of the SAD lamp may cause insomnia or other side effects.

Follow manufacturer's recommendations for position. Your lamp should come with guidelines for how close you should be to it. This is very important, as your distance from it will affect the lamp wattage in lux.

Position the lamp so that it gives you downward light. This ensures that it does not shine directly into your eyes.

Talk to your doctor about the best way to stop using the lamp. It may be best for you to gradually wean yourself off. Spending time outdoors, especially in the morning, can help this process.

Light Therapy and Bipolar Disorder Warning

Although light therapy has been found to be beneficial for people with bipolar disorder, you should consult your physician before daily administration. A healthcare professional who is familiar with your physical and mental health history can help you understand if light therapy is right for you.

Frequently asked questions about SAD lamps

Can SAD lamps damage the skin or eyes?

SAD lamps must be filtered from UV radiation so that they do not harm the eyes and skin. However, the light boxes used to treat certain skin conditions emit ultraviolet light, so you need to be sure that your light boxes are designed to treat SAD.

Can SAD lamps increase vitamin D levels?

Although some people have found that SAD lamps can increase vitamin D levels over time, there is not enough research to confirm this.

A 2007 study investigated whether patients with cystic fibrosis and short bowel syndrome were able to absorb vitamin D using commercial portable UV lamps. Research has shown that the lamp increases or maintains circulating vitamin D levels during the winter months.

However, other studies have shown that for light therapy to be effective in increasing vitamin D levels, it must produce UV light, which is not found in most SAD lamps.

According to the FDA, UV radiation can damage the skin and should be used with caution. Long-term exposure to UV rays can also cause premature aging and skin cancer. If you are using UV rays on your skin, you should talk to your doctor first.

How bright are the SAD lamps?

The recommended brightness for SAD lamps is typically 10,000 lux.

How long does it take for the SAD lamp to come on?

The University of British Columbia found that people can start responding to light therapy within a few days and you should see improvements within 2 weeks. Be sure to talk to your doctor if your body is not responding to the SAD lamp after 2 weeks.

Is there anyone who should not use the SAD lamp?

You should avoid using the SAD lamp if you are sensitive to light. This may be related to:

macular degeneration

connective tissue disease

lupus

Interested in other mental health resources?

We are here to help. Explore our evidence-based reviews of the best providers, products, and more to support your physical and emotional well-being.

Other remedies for seasonal affective disorder

Seasonal affective disorder can often be alleviated through active lifestyle changes. This includes:

going to bed early and waking up at or around dawn

going outside for long periods of time, especially first thing in the morning

avoiding substances that can negatively affect your ability to sleep, such as alcohol

eat whole, nutrient-rich foods

exercise

Seeing a mental health professional and taking antidepressants as recommended may also be helpful.

Conclusion

Seasonal Major Depressive Disorder, formerly known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a condition caused by reduced exposure to sunlight or changing seasons. Women and young people are most affected by this disease.

Using a SAD lamp, also known as a light box, can relieve symptoms and improve mood.

SAD lamps may be effective when used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment. In any case, always use these lamps under medical supervision.
Health
Light therapy for depression

Ordinary sunlight or a special lamp can improve depression. This is called light therapy. A member of our community has prepared a review of publications on what light therapy is and how it helps with bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder.

Personal experience prompted me to write this article. For as long as I can remember, summer has been the best time of my life. As a child, as a student, this could be attributed to the holidays, which everyone enjoys without exception. Then somehow it became more difficult to tie to the holidays - the holidays were no longer with me, but the habit of rejoicing remained. In summer, everything is easy, everything is simple, everything is fast, there is no time to even sleep, and you don’t feel like it. Then comes the golden autumn, then not very golden, and then not golden at all, but slushy, dreary and dark. Everything around becomes dull and gray, meaningless and useless, and you feel that your life is meaningless, useless, so the best thing is to go to the kitchen, have a big snack on buns and go to sleep. Preferably until spring, so as not to hear those idiots who offer you to cheer up.

It is impossible to force yourself to get up in the morning and start some kind of meaningful activity, everything and everyone around you infuriates. The only good news is the opportunity to go to bed early and try to fall asleep. Then once - and a snowball falls, then another, then everything turns white, and somehow life gets a little better. But soon the snow turns gray, fades, and there, and again, everything acquires a yellow-blue hue, like a boiled yolk. And so on until summer. And then the cycle repeats. And only many years later I learned that seasonal affective disorder combined with bipolar disorder is not only what I saw in others, but also what I myself have.

If you recognize yourself in winter, then take my word for it - this is not the norm. It's time for you to go to the doctor. You very likely have seasonal affective disorder, as detailed by Dr. Rosenthal in 1984(1). And if in the summer everything is just as wonderful for you as it is for me, then go all the more so, bipolar affective disorder combined with seasonal is no better.

The fact that the length of the daylight hours affects our activity has been known since ancient times(2). The Chinese physician Wong Tei wrote 4700 years ago that a person's mood is connected with the season. Hippocrates associated melancholy with winter and mania with summer, and many other physicians, ancient and not so, drew attention to the connection of mood with the seasons.

There are many hypotheses for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but the exact cause is unknown. It is believed that the less sun a person sees, the worse a part of the brain called the hypothalamus works for him. It is responsible for many brain functions, including our emotions. Melatonin is overproduced, causing drowsiness, and serotonin, on the contrary, is produced in smaller amounts, which causes a decrease in mood, and these are just some of the possible mechanisms for the development of SAD. The main reason is the lack of sunlight.

By the way, not only people suffer from SAD. If animals leading a predominantly diurnal lifestyle (humans, for example, or grass rats) are deprived of bright light for a long time, they will somehow develop a depressive state (3). In grass mice, which were placed in an environment with a dim, “winter” light, memory, learning ability worsened, signs of anxiety and depression appeared. Even mice with a lack of sunlight become depressed. What can we say about a person ... At the same time, in mice, no connection was found with circadian rhythm disorders, on which seasonal depression depends, in this study.

According to one theory, depression can develop when the circadian rhythm (that is, the change of day and night) and periods of sleep and wakefulness do not match. In other words, a person is forced to go to bed and wake up not in accordance with his biological rhythm, but at an imposed time (not a word about an alarm clock!). This idea is based on the theory of light therapy, which aims to restore the circadian rhythm and thus bring a person out of depression. But the level of illumination, which is necessary for this, turned out to be much higher than in natural conditions. So it's not just about circadian rhythms. But whatever it is, light therapy works well for SAD (4).

But depression is not limited to SAD. Depression may not be related to the length of daylight hours, and then the question remains: will additional light help such people? And if a person has not just SAD, but bipolar affective disorder?

If he has periods of autumn depression followed by periods of hypo- or manic state in summer? Will he then switch from depression to mania, that is, will the light harm him? In search of answers to these questions, scientists have come to the conclusion that there is no damage due to bright light, but there is a benefit for people with depression. Several studies have recently been published that studied the effect of bright light on depression in bipolar disorder.

A study was conducted at Chicago Northwestern University where light was used not in the morning but in the afternoon (5). The original plan was to compare morning bright white light with soft red light, but three of the first four patients treated with bright light developed hypomania. The researchers decided that light therapy in the morning might be to blame, and moved the treatment time to the afternoon hours.

They assumed that it would be ineffective, because a person sees the light during the day, unless he lives underground or in the conditions of the polar night.

It turned out that a bright white lamp significantly alleviated depression in 68% of patients, and a red one only in 22%, which was consistent with the results of other studies with morning light therapy. It is noteworthy that no one developed hypomania during treatment.

Very similar results were obtained in Turkey (6) and China (7), with bright light in depressed patients confirmed to enhance antidepressant effects in both unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, including in patients without depression. seasonality (8) The table below compares the illuminance with different light sources9.

As you can see, the treatment lamp gives off as much light as you get when you go outside on a sunny day.

Source Illumination (lux)

Bright sunlight 50,000 - 100,000

Sunny day 10 000

Treatment lamp Up to 10,000

Cloudy day 1000 - 5000

Lighting in offices, classrooms, etc. 500

General home lighting 250

Full moon 0. 1

Now it becomes clearer why staying at home is harmful (in every respect), and wolves howling at the moon. If you have depression associated with SAD, then you definitely need a lamp. And if not connected, you can just go outside on a sunny day. It is not only useful, but also absolutely free.

Although people have known since ancient times that sunlight affects mood, this type of treatment is not fully understood. In Holland, a group of scientists decided to find out whether the effect of light on mood depends on the spectrum of this light (10).

A cloudy day is bad not only because it has little light as such, but also because there is practically no ultraviolet in the radiation. Of course, it is not good for the eyes at all. But was it worth testing the hypothesis of whether dim blue light of just 100 lux is useful for people with depression?

It turned out that yes, in the study it turned out to be as effective as bright. Unfortunately, there are no definitive recommendations on how and when to properly use a bright lamp. Some people, including psychiatrists and psychotherapists, still have questions about the safety of bright light treatment for the eyes.

A team from the Free University of Amsterdam reviewed 43 scientific articles reporting various adverse events in patients treated with light therapy for various reasons, including depression and bipolar disorder (11).

In theory, light therapy can be dangerous to the eyes because it can damage the retina with HEV radiation (HEV radiation, or blue light, high-energy visible light) - this is high-frequency high-energy light in the visible spectrum in the range from 400 to 500 nm. No other parts of the eye (lens, cornea, etc.) are affected. During light therapy, some patients (up to 45%) complained of discomfort and visual disturbances, regardless of the dose of light therapy.

However, in part of the studies, there were more complaints in patients treated with dim red light than in those treated with bright white light. In other experiments, on the contrary, bright light was tolerated worse. In some studies, bright light at 10,000 lux did not cause any discomfort, and in others, people complained of discomfort at an intensity of only 400 lux.

Researchers evaluated the effect of light therapy on the eye's light sensitivity and found that when exposed to brighter white light, sensitivity to red light is temporarily reduced, and when exposed to less bright red light, sensitivity to it, on the contrary, increases.

Both are normal. There are practically no complications from light therapy in people who do not have eye diseases. An exception is complications when taking photosensitizing drugs (photosensitization is an increase in the sensitivity of the body, more often the skin and mucous membranes, to the action of light radiation when taking certain drugs, such as antibiotics).

The only reliable case of damage to the retina during light therapy was recorded in a patient who took the antidepressant clomipramine (anafranil), among the side effects of which is photosensitivity.

It is safe to say that bright light treatment is safe for the eyes. Dr. Carl Aiken, director of the Center for Mood Disorders at Wake Forest University (USA), recommends the use of large lamps with a brightness of at least 2,000 lux with a UV filter to protect the eyes 12. The session is best done during the day, from 12 to 14 hours. It is better to sit half a meter from the lamp, but not directly opposite it, but obliquely, at an angle of 45 degrees. At the same time, you can do the usual things (eat, work, watch TV). The lamp should be changed every three years.

In any case, you should only start light therapy after consulting your doctor. Although sunlight is beneficial for health, light therapy for bipolar disorder is not fully understood and should be approached with caution.

Petr Denisov, specially for the Bipolar Association

Literature

1. Rosenthal, N. E. et al. Seasonal affective disorder. A description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 41, 72–80 (1984).

2. Geoffroy, P. A., Schroder, C. M. & Bourgin, P. Light treatment in depression: An antique treatment with new insights. Sleep Med. Rev. 40, 218–219 (2018).

3. Yan, L., Lonstein, J. S. & Nunez, A. A. Light as a modulator of emotion and cognition: Lessons learned from studying a diurnal rodent. Horm. behavior. (2018). doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.09.003

4. Nussbaumer, B. et al. Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. (2015). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011269.pub2

5. Sit, D.K. et al. Adjunctive Bright Light Therapy for Bipolar Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. Am. J. Psychiatry 175, 131–139 (2018).

6. Yorguner Kupeli, N., Bulut, N. S., Carkaxhiu Bulut, G., Kurt, E. & Kora, K. Efficacy of bright light therapy in bipolar depression.
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